Wasps can only look and yearn

The front row stalwart insists the chance of giving coach John Wells and playing legends Neil Back and Martin Johnson a fitting climax to their final season with the Tigers is going to ensure a performance of some magnitude. Rowntree said: "It's all there for us this season. We've reached the quarter-finals, we've got some key players and our coach leaving at the end of the campaign and we've got all the determination in the world.

"I just feel it is our time. We owe it to people like Martin Johnson, Neil Back and John Wells to send them off in the best possible way. It would also be a reward for our fans. It has been a bit embarrassing in recent years with no trophies and it would be great to give them something to shout about.

"The Heineken Cup was important when I first started playing in Europe, but now it is the Holy Grail to all the players. It was great to be involved in Europe in those early days because it was something new and exciting, but these days it is a financial must for clubs. Playing away from home, and against a side as talented as Leinster, will bring out the best in us. We thrive on a challenge - Leinster are unbeaten and we have had a good season. I can't see a weakness in their side.

"They are supposed to have struggled up front against Bath, but they still came through and beat them twice. They have no weaknesses and it's all there for them to achieve this season with home draws in the quarters and semis if they get through."

The Tigers were back-to-back Heineken Cup champions in 2001 and 2002, but only qualified as the second best runner-up and claimed the No 8 seeding.

Reggie Corrigan, the Leinster captain and Ireland prop, prefers to accentuate the Tigers form in the Cup rather than their English domestic wobbles and said: "They are a real super power who are well and truly on the way back up. They have been rebuilding for the last couple of seasons after winning those two finals but they are right back up there at the top."

Newcastle have slim hopes of being able to include Jonny Wilkinson in their replacements against Stade Francais as he continues to battle against a knee ligament injury. Rob Andrew, the club's director of rugby, admitted: "Jonny is no more than 50-50 at the moment. He has done part of our training this week, but hasn't done the rest of it."

SALE SHARKS are set to unleash a fit Jason Robinson on European Challenge Cup opponents Connacht tomorrow.

Robinson has been given the allclear to resume playing after missing England's final two Six Nations games with a damaged thumb. He said: "The specialist has given me the go-ahead. He was satisfied that the injury had fully healed. I am really looking forward to playing."